Can opener key and strip guide



May 30, 1933. 1. EPSTEIN 1,911,613

CAN OPENER KEY AND STRIP GUIDE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets$heet l F/G. Z.

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[VI i113 'Epsi'eiw May 39, 1933. r EPSTElN 1,911,613

CAN OPENER KEY AND STRIP GUIDE Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwawfozf I Irving Epsieiru 3&6 if

Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES IRVING EPSTEIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CAN OPENER KEY AND STRIP GUIDE Application filed February 20, 1932. Serial No. 594,213.

My invention relates to improvements in a can opener key and strip guide and it consists in the novel features which are hereinafter more fully described.

One of the objects of my improvement is to produce a perfected can opener key provided with a guide for the strip of metal which is severed from the can, whereby said strip may be kept substantially in the plane of rotation of the part of the key which is in engagement therewith. thereby enhancing the efiicie-ncy of the action of said key and thereby also protecting the hand of the operator against lacerations and cutting by said strip.

Another object of my invention is to produce certain novel forms of can opener keys which are adapted for mass production.

A further object of my invention is to have said can opener key and strip guide relatively simple durable and inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

I attain these objects by the can opener key and strip guide, three forms of which are illustrated on an enlarged scale in the accompanying drawings, or by any mechanical equivalent or obvious modification of the same. 30 In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation or side view of one form of my can opener and strip guide; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig 4 is a plan view of the same can opener and strip guide shown with a strip of the severed metal in engagement therewith; the strip is shown in section, on the line 44 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of another form of my can opener key and strip guide; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a still other form of my can opener key and strip guideyand Fi 10 is a section on the line 10'-10 of Fig. 9, lofiting in the direction of the arrows.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

11 designates the main body of my can opener key which is shown in Figs. 1 to 5; it is preferably made of a half round wire as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 but may also be of any other cross-section; it is doubled up on itself into a pair of prongs and provided with a looped handle as at 12 and a flattened pair of ends 13 for connection to the top of a can.

The end 13 also keeps the guide, which is hereinafter described, from being separated from said body 11.

By springing the prongs 11 apart the end 14 of a metal strip 15 may be inserted therebetween as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for severing said strip 15 .by rotating said prongs 11 by means of said handle 12.

A strip guide 16, preferably shaped as shown, may be made of a strip of metal having sockets 17 at the ends of a pair of legs 16a and bent at the shoulders as at 18; it is connected to said-body 11 by passing the latter through said sockets 17 before the ends 13 thereof are flattened.

The. sockets 17 are shown Fig. 3 as loose on said body 11 when the prongs of the latter are not separated as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 thereby permitting the separation of said prongs by the insertion of the end 14 of said strip 15 therebetween. as shown in Figs. 4 and 5; the sockets 17 of said strip guide 16 are shown in Fig. 5 not as loose on said prongs 11 asin Fig. 3.

A clearance is provided between .the sides of said strip 15 and the inner sides of the legs 16a of said guide 16, as shown in Fig. 4; but this clearance is not so large as to allow undue lateral creeping of said strip 15 during the rotation of said body 11.

he flattened ends 13 of the opener key are shown in Figs. 1 and 3 as offset, to provide room for said sockets 17 on the top of a can when said ends 13 are secured thereto by riveting or otherwise.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the body 21 of the can opener key is made of round wire, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is also flattened at the end as at 23 and provided with a looped handle 22.

The middle part of said body is flattened as at 20 and provided with a slot 19 for the insertion thereinto of the end 14 of a metal strip 15.

A strip guide 16-17 may be formed on said body 21 after the latter is flattened and slotted by rolling up the sockets 17 on to the body 21. The end 23 of the body 21 is also offset as shown in Fig. 7.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 a strip guide 26 is employed having thereon sockets 27, which may be formed by punchin or drillin holes: in flat round ears provide at the en s of a strip, which may be also punched out of a sheet of flat stock.

The body 21a of the opener key is also formed of round wire having in the middle part thereof a portion 30 which is distorted by shearing in a plane passing through the axis of the body 21a, whereby two branches are formed each of semicircular cross-section, as shown in Fig. 10, and-leaving therebetween an opening or slot 29 for the insertion thereinto of the end 14 of a metal strip 15.

The opener key in Fig. 9 is also provided with a looped handle 22 and an offset flattened end 23.

Variations are possible and parts of my invention may be used without other parts.

I do not, therefore, restrict myself to the details as shown in the drawings; but I intend to include also all mechanical equivalents and obvious modifications of the same within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. As an article of manufacture a can opener key having thereon positioned substantially in the same plane therewith and pivotally connected thereto a guide for the strip of metal, which is to be severed from the can said guide having thereon a leg terminating in a socket for pivotally connecting thereto said key, whereby said strip may be prevented from creeping sideways along the body of the key and whereby the hands of operators of said key may be protected against injury by the edges of said stri 2. As an article of manufacture a can openor key having thereon pivotally connected thereto a guide for the strip of metal which is to be severed from the can, said key being made of wire, having a suitable shape in cross-section, doubled up on itself into a pair of prongs and having at one end thereof, formed integral therewith, a looped handle, said prongs to be sprung apart for the inser; tion therebetween of the end of a strip of metal which is to be severed from a can.

3. The elements of claim 1, said key terminating at one end thereof in an offset flattened part, whereby said key may be secured to the top of a can, said ofl'set part allowing room for the portions of said guide at the pivotal part thereof and said flattened part also kee in said ide from bein se arated from the body gf said key. g p

4. The elements of claim 1, said guide being formed of an integral piece of metal having its ends rolled up into a air of sockets for the pivotal connection wit said key and said piece being bent at the middle part thereof, thereby forming a pair of legs terminating in said sockets, said legs serving to pre- Ivent the lateral creeping of said strip on said 5. As an article of manufacture a can opener key having thereon pivotally connected thereto a guide for the strip of metal, which is to be severed from the can, said key being made of wire having a suitable shape in cross-section, said guide having thereon a pair of legs, terminating in sockets at the pivotal parts thereof, and a portion of the main body of said key, disposed between said sockets, being flattened and provided with a slot for the insertion thereinto of the end of a strip of metal which is to be severed from a can.

6. As an article of manufacture a can openor key having thereon pivotally connected thereto a guide for the strip of metal, wh ch is to be severed from the can, said key being made of wire having a suitable shape in crosssection, said guide having thereon a pair of legs, terminating in sockets at the pivotal parts thereof, and a portion of the ma n body of said key, disposed between said sockets, being distorted by shearing 1n 2. plane passing through the axis of sald body, whereby two branches are formed, each of corresponding cross-section, and leav ng therebetween an opening for the insertion thereinto of the end of a strip of metal, which is to be severed from a can.

IRVING EPSTEIN. 

